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Keep Loving

Our country is in a sad state during these days.  There is so much to learn about recent happenings, then to process and understand.  I feel there are many areas that we the people must begin to address and this does not start at the national level, it begins in the home where families teach children values.  As I try to process it all and understand more, these verses come to mind:

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." - 1 Peter 4:8-9

To love people earnestly, means to be stretched to our limit, putting others' good ahead of our own.  In our selfish, me focused society, that's a very difficult thing for us to do.  But as Christians, we should offer others grace, what they don't deserve, even when we've been treated wrongly.  Why should we do that?  Well, don't we happily receive grace from God that we as sinners do not deserve? 

Love covers a multitude of sins.  This is quoted from Proverbs 10:12 which reads, "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."  What does this mean?  This is not to teach us that the discipline and punishment of sin is to be swept aside out of love.  It is an internal directive for us to overlook the sins against us, if possible, and forgive others for their actions against us. 

Our country is sadly divided on so many levels right now.  I began typing that I don't have the answer, but I feel like I do.  I may not have all the solutions but I can tell who does, and how we can fix this broken country.  "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" - Matthew 7:12 aka The Golden Rule.

"In a culture that lacks trust, let's be people of trust.  In a day that lacks hope, let's share our hope in Christ.  In a nation that lacks direction, let's seek the direction of God's Spirit." - Dr. Jim Denison

My devotional, printed months ago, closed with this prayer this morning:  "Father in heaven, help us see each individual as uniquely made in your image and worthy of our love and respect.  Show your love through our lives in some small way today."

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